Lazy W Marie

Carpeing all the diems in semi-rural Oklahoma...xoxo

friday 5 at the farm: rainy indoor day edition

Today Oklahoma is gladly receiving a heavy late season rainstorm. It woke us around 3 am, actually, with the luscious violence of thunder and window-shimmering lightning flashes. The deluge now is calm and warm, drenching all the prairie green to a deeper, more exotic shade, exactly what our eyes have been craving. Our own little jungle hemmed in with pine trees and buffalo grass. The pond is high far beyond its banks, and we are so grateful.

 

 

The saying goes that rainy days are when gardeners do their housework. With only two of us living here, our big house stays relatively tidy and dusted up, minus some evidence of a rambunctious two-year old German Shepherd living here too; but some projects do get neglected in favor of long mornings spent running both miles and errands, and maybe playing with the horses, and long afternoons spent working in the gardens. So today’s flood watch invites me indoors to play catch up.

Here’s my Friday 5 at the Farm this week, rainy indoor day edition:

Read & Write: I have two gorgeous fiction books I have been wanting to finish reading, a family cookbook project I would really like to nibble at before Mother’s Day is upon us, and several blog post ideas that only need some time applied. This little corner of the Apartment is calling my name.

 

Sewing: Once I finish repairing a fun tablecloth order for my friend Suzanne, I have a small pile of apron projects cut out and ready to assemble. I am loving the fresh summer fabrics and am kinda extra happy about getting back to basic shapes. Do you need an apron? Send me a note!

 

 

Laundry & Ironing: One big load of laundry to wash and fold, then this easy line of shirts to press for Handsome for next week. During ironing time lately I have been listening to podcasts. Stuff about either minimalism or running and nutrition. Good stuff, man. Great stuff. I am learning so much.

 

 

Deep Stretch & Strengthening Yoga: No running today, though I could easily use the garage treadmill. I am actually taking the day off on purpose to do some seriously indulgent, profitable yoga, core work, and foot exercises. I have more to share about this on Monday, these lessons learned recently about not being in balance and how it can lead to injury.

 

 

Poor Klaus: Clearly the most important thing on my rainy day agenda is keeping my big playful pup happy and occupied. He is currently pining hard for his llama buddy, his barnyard chores routine, a romp around the back field, and maybe another swim in the turtle habit, aka our overflowing pond. Poor buddy. We will be playing lots of indoor fetch today, I predict.

 

 

How do you spend offbeat days? Do you relish the chance to do something different, to indulge in a new routine and catch all of those elusive loose ends?

Seize the days, whatever they bring and however they look. Redeem the time. The common and the lovely moments, the surprising and the rare.

Happy Friday, friends. I hope you are getting all the rain and inspiration you need.

XOXOXOXO

 

friday 5 at the farm: feel good meals this week

Happy Friday!! Lots to celebrate over here. Lots of good stuff to press again into our flesh so it becomes more a part of us. 

 

Yesterday I got to nourish my soul as much as my body by gobbling up two hours of top-shelf conversation with my cousin Jen. Actually our moms are cousins. More importantly, we are friends and have been since we were little girls.

 

Jen and me at Roman Nose state park, circa the 80’s. Climbing rocks in flip flops? Since this is a food post, I will tell you that I clearly remember eating cottage cheese with pineapple that day, on a bed of lettuce. We also roasted hot dogs.

I am always so grateful to grab time with this woman. She lives in Colorado now, not far from Jocelyn. Needless to say, we have some fun activities planned for my next drive up.

I love you Jen!! Thanks for sharing your heart and your cake. 

 

 

Real quick, five meals that made me feel great this past week. 

I do not “meal-prep” in the traditional hashtag sense of the word, though I admire those of you who do. How fun to see what other people eat, especially folks with similar goals and lifestyles. For us, I just plan loose menus aiming for as many vegetables as I can find, some lean-ish protein, eggs, fruits, good grains and cereals, and, okay, copious amounts of caffeine. Also popcorn.

Close observers might notice a conspicuous absence of tortilla chips these days. Just an experiment to see I die from not eating them?

When I hydrate completely and nourish myself with just a little intention, I always feel better. Happier, more energetic, stronger for good consecutive days of running and farm chores, sleepier at night, comfier with life in general.

Handsome feels better with good habits, too. He and I eat the same more than our friends might believe. I might eat slightly bigger salads than he does, and he might like potatoes more than I do, but otherwise? Like 67.814% the same.

Onward!

 

1. Apple Oats & Strong Coffee with Full Fat Half and Half, no sugar: I ate this late Tuesday morning after running nine miles, six with my friend Sheila and three solo. I was cold, wet, happy, and pleasantly depleted. I got home and craved something sweet. Normally I put runny eggs in my plain oats, but this day a Granny Smith apple was perfect. Loads of cinnamon. I was at max energy for hours. And behold the extreme volume of froth on that coffee, thanks to my $1.79 IKEA gadget. Obsessed. 335 calories, 68 carbs, 3 fat, 12 protein.

 

2. Roasted Broccoli with Quinoa, Lean Ground Beef, & a Parsley Mountain: A few cups of broccoli thawed and roasted, a nice sized patty of lean ground beef, and a hefty scoop of quinoa-wild rice mix. I smothered all of it with fresh parsley and added mustard instead of salad dressing. I was so full and content. 537 calories, 15 fat, 55 carbs, 53 protein.

3. The Egghead at Red Cup: Thursday was lunch with Jen. We met in OKC at the Red Cup, an adorable, artsy coffee shop that has evolved nicely over the last couple of decades. First I ate this picturesque sandwich you see here, and washed it down with some pretty decent French Press coffee. The bread was marbled rye, and the good stuff inside was a fluffy egg or two, avocado slices, some salad type things, and maybe a smear of hummus? Delicious. No exact nutrition data to share, but I felt great after eating it and had energy all afternoon. See below for our dessert…

4. Vegan Peach Cake: Jen and I nibbled together on this cold, fluffy, nutty, fruity mound of indulgence in between updating each other on our lives lately, our hearts’ desires, and what books we both have read. We made this cake last a long while, man! And by the end of our two-hour lunch, still half of it remained on the plate. Not because it wasn’t good, because it was. It was just so dense. And we were both already so full from our actual food! Yum. 

5. Green Salad with Broccoli Slaw & Sirloin: Have you ever tried a baggie of that raw broccoli slaw from the produce department? I grabbed one a few days ago for a great price and have to admit, I love the convenience. I recently saw the idea of using these tiny veggies slivers in a stir fry, which I will eventually do. So far, on a “big salad” night I just added about half a cup of it, plain and raw, to a bed of chopped romaine and tomato, topped it with several ounces of petit sirloin and some vinaigrette, and called it a huge win. I ate a big handful of “air-fryer” russet potato fries afterwards, too. Yum. 464 calories, 38 carbs, 15 fat, 42 protein. 

Food regrets this week? Nope. We were well fed and happy every day, for which I am grateful. I feel super fortunate.

Wednesday night we ate that slightly famous homemade Chick-Fil-A pan-fried “pickle chicken,” this time on toasted hamburger buns, and I added cheese and peppers to mine. This dish did not make my top 5, but it was really good. I call it an extra win because I relaxed enough to enjoy every bite despite not being able to run that day. Still, let’s not discuss nutrition on that. Thanks. : )

Let’s admire a llama instead.

Meh the llama wondering why I take so many pictures of him.
Meh returning to his lunch of dried pine needles.
Klaus pouncing like a kangaroo to interrupt the pine needle lunch, actually having underestimated Meh’s agility. Yet again. The fight was short and sweet.

Why is food so fun to talk about?

Time for my long run! And then one already nicely assembled weekend about to launch. Gotta go.

xoxoxoxo

friday 5 at the farm: snapshots of life lately

What a week! Starting with last Sunday, which was refreshing and restful in many ways, this past week ran the gamut. We experienced so many highs and lows, worked so hard, and loved so intently that as I type this early Friday evening I’m feeling kind of amazed. Amazed that we made it unscathed. Amazed by how surrounded we are by goodness and how perfect God’s timing is. Amazed that springtime has finally won the tug of war with winter. There’s a metaphor in all of that, I’m sure.

It’s Friday, so how about five snapshots of life lately?

Monday around lunchtime Jocelyn texted me, asking was I busy? Never too busy to see her. I cleaned myself up and drove to the City. We spent several hours talking, shopping, and drinking these drinks you see below. She is a boba tea devotee, something which I feel only “Kids These Days” really understand, and I enjoyed a viciously strong iced coffee with a not skimpy amount of real cream. Monday happened to be her last day in Oklahoma for a while, so we soaked each other up. (I didn’t even cry!) She brought a friend to the farm that evening for dinner, and all four of us laughed so hard and so much that a big grin was plastered on my face the rest of the night.

Sidenote: Handsome had just endured a ridiculously difficult day at the office, so a night of good food, hard laughter, and face to face time with our Girl was the perfect antidote. xoxo

f5 coffee C

I mentioned that Spring has sprung. The best evidence of this is how sheddy the horses are. A few weeks ago I could brush the loose hair off of their ample bodies, but now a light breeze cause great drifts of it to float away, and by the end of March we will once again look like the tribbles from Star Trek have invaded.

f5 chanta C

Our evening meals all week long have been to die for. Handsome and I both feel so much better when we eat “well,” which means some thing slightly different for each of us. After many consecutive but worthwhile days of feasting with family around the time of Grandpa’s funeral and then celebrating my birthday, both of us were happy to settle back into a more deliberate eating routine. Our bellies just needed a little break. My faves, as always, are big bowls of leafy greens topped with roasted or raw veggies (currently obsessed with radishes and cucumbers) and whatever protein we have available. In this photo I also topped my giant salad with one sweet potato, cooked to perfection in the air fryer. Love that gadget. Zero oil needed.

f5 food C

Don’t you love how once the landscape wakes up, even shrubs and trees that had been more or less green all winter, suddenly look vibrantly green? Check out this unruly beast behind my metal rooster. Those tendrils grew several inches this past week, as they will continue to do all the way up until about Thanksgiving. And the color! Like someone turned on a light bulb inside the branches. I love it.

f5 rooster C

Sewing! I have spent a couple of days in the Apartment this week getting reacquainted with my sewing machines. That’s been fun. Watch for a big Mother’s Day event soon!

f5 apron C

We have been aggressively thinning our decorative and collectible hoard, which feels wonderful. Every day I continue work on manure/compost and take a long walk to see what is growing (nearly everything). We’re so happy the hens are laying again, and with enthusiasm. And of course so many interesting beekeeping jobs. The Lazy W Honey-makers are doing so great, I have a lot to tell you soon.

Ok, that’s it for now! We are off to relax for the night and are excited for a hiking and car show event with friends tomorrow. Then more running, eating, romancing, farm working, and keeping the stress demons at bay.

Wishing you the best weekend ever!

“Misguided urgency can be the enemy of progress.”
~The Minimalists Podcast
XOXOXOXO

 

43rd birthday snapshots

This week I turned 43 years old! It feels weird. Crazy good weird. Weird in the best sort of way things do, because (as so many of my people have described to me in other ways) time passes fleetingly yet not at all with as much damage as we expect when we are younger. And by younger I mean, obviously, either 8 or 36. 43 is nothing like what I thought it would be at either of those tender ages. I am grateful to report that I feel happier, healthier, and more involved in the business of living life than ever before. 

This year for my birthday I got some new bees. Honeybees, as I am sure you assumed, and lots of them. A fully developed, robust, mellow colony, complete with brood and a speck of sustenance honey. Maribeth helped me cut them out of a shed made available to us by a friend and his sweet family. I will write that whole story soon for apiary record keeping. Suffice it to say I was romanced and enthralled by the whole experience and am deeply happy about having a third colony at the Lazy W!

Cheesy grins and a hug following a successful afternoon of bee wrangling.
Cheesy grins and a hug following a successful afternoon of bee wrangling.

new bees C

A few days ago Handsome took Jocelyn and me to an early birthday lunch of some of the best Tex-Mex food you can find in OKC. Do I need to tell you guys at this point how much I love tortilla chips? And all the things you eat with them? It was so good. More importantly, the three of us had a much needed conversation that I will treasure for years to come.

I made my own 43rd birthday dessert, as part of a random bucket list I wrote for this year only. I had to lovingly stress to my cake-ordering guy that it was my actual birthday dessert wish, truly, to try my hand at a homemade tiramisu. It was a disaster in every way, but we got a great laugh.

ingreds C

My sister Angela sent me the most perfect and hilarious birthday card, accompanied by the most perfect and hilarious written note. It was off color just the right amount, and I laughed all the way from our mailbox back up to the house. She and I only live half an hour apart, and we had already planned to see each other in person this week, so the fact that she snail-mailed me a card made the whole thing funnier. And sweeter. And more perfect.

In addition to new bees, on my actual birthday (Wednesday) I was super happy to collect the first green eggs of the year! And it happened on what was also the first ten-egg day of the year, so go Lazy W hens!! They all taste the same (cue heartfelt lesson on character content, not skin color, although this smacks of cannibalism now), but I can’t help it. The mint green shells are my favorite.

green eggs C

Birthday Week continued with some easy, low key running, some Apartment organizing, and more time with Jocelyn, her friend Garret and the pups. I kinda can’t get enough of that stuff. I laugh so hard with her.

One night Handsome and I drove to the city to watch the Thunder play San Antonio (THUNDER WIN!!) and another day we went to Cars and Coffee (debuting our gigantic pink Cadillac) and then to see a matinée with my parents and little brother Philip, KING KONG SKULL ISLAND. Oh man, you guys, such a great iteration of a classic creature feature. My gosh. Bring on the next Monarch installment!

marilyn cars n coffee C

Somewhere in there my sister Angela drove out to the farm, another much appreciated dose of belly laughter. She and Handsome and I lingered over homemade pizza and had the best conversation for hours. Sometime I will tell you why this is beyond nice, why this represents a long string of beautiful miracles in our family. In the meantime, look how much my dog loves her too:

angela klaus C

I made another happy stop at the Savory Spice Shoppe, to pick up my birthday treat plus more, and the owner recognized me as the Instagram lady who makes aprons, ha! That was fun. I feel like I want to start sending personalized aprons and towels to local businesses.

sss C

The rest of the weekend is likely to be cold and rainy, so some reading and cuddling might be in order. Then starting Monday (possibly before) running ramps up again in earnest and life will return more or less to normal. I’m feeling very loved and wildly blessed. In every way I have shared and a million more I haven’t, turning 43 has been pretty great. I would only like this coming year of life to move more slowly, just to soak up more things, more deeply, and to pursue some exciting goals harder. 

Thank you for all of your birthday wishes all over the place! I appreciate you guys so much. Thanks for reading.

XOXOXOXO

Posts to watch for the coming couple of weeks:

  • Collateral Beauty movie discussion
  • An amazing week of togetherness with my family
  • Joy Luck Club book discussion
  • Spring has sprung! Farm update
  • Bee yard update
  • Running update: New goals, new methods
  • Listen to Your Mother: I am on the 2017 cast!
  • New Lazy W recipe!
  • Cheap gardening project ideas

 

 

 

 

 

will I ever blog again & it’s fine

Stuff is crazy, man. Life is full to bursting, in the coolest and scariest ways, and by that I mean only the very best, most nourishing and fulfilling ways. Trust and gratitude, gratitude and trust. It’ll all be fine.

Day after day I have ideas of things that need writing. Most days I sketch them in the nearest spiral notebook and sometimes jam out a few sentences on Facebook, but the full depth and breadth and height of life will never be captured this way.

klaus kale shirt happy C

Even when I want to sit and spend the sunrise hours writing, it’s really time to feed the animals, play fetch with Klaus, drink my last cup of quite strong perfect coffee, make the beds (ours is a two-bedroom marriage now, it’s cool like being bi-coastal but together), start some laundry, scoop some manure into the compost, and BAM it’s finally time to lace up and run some miles. Preferably before my stomach starts growling obscenely and I cave and eat breakfast first. Fasted miles are my favorite.

Also, am I losing weight? Getting speedier? Slimming down or not? Do people care, should I blog about that journey? I don’t know.

It’s fine.

This morning I ran at the farm. Our sandy hills are doing their very best to dry out from all the glorious early spring rain, but they are still quite slick and mushy. Lost in thought, about halfway through mile three, my toe caught a slick tree root and somehow I fell up in the air instead of straight down to the ground. My mind commanded to my body, “Go limp! Go limp!” and my body obeyed. Not only did I go limp; I managed, at the apex of this weird tumble, to twist myself so that in a slow-motion moment I landed on my cush posterior, facing the sky. I just laid there looking at the pulsing blue, relaxed because I luckily had the presence of mind, mid-twist, to hit pause on my Garmin. Pace records are suddenly very important to me. Apparently as important as not crashing my porcelain teeth on a slab of red rock. Or this steel pipe gate pictured below. Anyway it was a very Matrix-James Bond moment for me, and the only damage was some damp red earth scuffing my clean white compression socks. My posterior is unharmed, as are my porcelain front teeth, etcetera.

forest gate C

Then midday, my friend Amber visited the farm for the first time, and we had the best real conversation. In less than an hour we dove deep and swam easily through topics like sex education for young women, honesty and transparency in the coming of age, marriage and how men apologize differently than women, motherhood, the importance of treasuring the exact chapter you’re in, how beautiful mundanity can be, smoking meats, and much more. I met Amber through beekeeping and learned that she practically lives around the corner from our farm, which happens so rarely I get quite excited when it does. I have the most wonderful feeling that she and I will be spending more happy time together this spring and summer.

My dog is in love with her. Awkwardly, I am afraid.

With what remains of today I plan to finish a small pile of ironing, sew one apron, and get a pork tenderloin started for a late supper. Then the chicken coop gets a serious cleaning and fresh supply of nesting straw and the middle field gets as many scrapes from my manure shovel as time will allow. More friends are visiting this afternoon, and I am pretty happy about that.

klaus cuddle sky C

The thing is, really, it’s fine. All those thoughts that swirl and pester us, the What-If needles, all the things that keep our hearts frothed up, they are under control. Let’s go ahead and relax. Enjoy the day whether it’s busy or mundane. Love your people. Say your prayers. Trust God with the stuff you cannot (and should not) control.

Blogging again soon, maybe. After Klaus is done snuggling my feet.

It’s better than fine. It’s perfect.
XOXOXOXO